SC refuses to entertain plea of HDFC Bank CEO against FIR by Lilavati Trust

New Delhi [India], July 4 : The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain the plea of HDFC Bank CEO and MD Sashidhar Jagdishan seeking quashing of FIR lodged against him for cheating and fraud by Lilavati Kirtilal Mehta Medical Trust, as it noted that the Bombay High Court is scheduled to hear his plea on July 14.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan said that it hopes and trusts that the matter will be taken up on July 14 for hearing.
It further observed that it was improper on the part of the Supreme Court to intervene when Jagdishan's petition was listed before the Bombay High Court on July 14.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for Jagdishan, pressed for interim protection at least until July 14, saying the FIR was frivolous and that the bank had been roped into a private dispute between the trustees.
"We sympathise, the case was initially listed for hearing on June 18, June 20... We hope and trust that the matter will be taken up on July 14," said the bench.
HDFC Bank CEO and MD Sashidhar Jagdishan on Thursday approached the apex court against the FIR lodged against him
According to the complaint filed by the Trust, which owns and manages the famous Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, Jagdishan allegedly accepted a bribe of Rs 2.05 crore in exchange for providing financial advice to help the Chetan Mehta Group retain illegal and undue control over the Trust's governance.
It further accused Jagdishan of misusing his position as the head of a leading private bank to interfere in the internal affairs of a charitable organisation.
Based on an application moved by the Trust, the FIR against Jagdishan was registered at the Bandra police station following an order by a Bandra Magistrate Court under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Jagdishan was booked under charges of cheating, criminal breach of trust, and criminal breach of trust by a public servant.